Smithsonian Police

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Smithsonian Institution Office of Protection Services patch

The Smithsonian Institution Office of Protection Services is the police force of the Smithsonian Institution.

It is a federal guard force with limited special police authority tasked with protecting visitors, staff, property, and grounds of the federally-owned and managed Smithsonian Institution museums and research centers in Washington, D.C., New York City and Virginia.

The Smithsonian Institution was created by Congress in 1846.

1 Positions
2 Law Enforcement Authority
3 Law Enforcement Union Membership
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Positions

There are several positions within the Office of Protection:

Smithsonian Museum Protection Officers/Guards are U.S. federal government employees that are designated as "special police" under the United States Code (Title 10, Chapter 63, §6306). They undergo three weeks of training in firearm use, arrest and handcuff procedures, and pepper spray use. They are assigned to one of 19 Smithsonian museums or research sites in New York City, Virginia or the District of Columbia.

National Zoological Park Police patch

Smithsonian Museum Physical Security Specialists and Supervisory Physical Security Specialists assist in overseeing the daily protection operations at individual sites.

Smithsonian Zoological Police Officers, although under the authority of the Smithsonian Institution, do not report to the Office of Protection Services because they are specifically assigned to the 163-acre (0.66 km²) National Zoo. The National Zoo is owned and managed by the Smithsonian in the District of Columbia and is staffed 24 hours a day by full-time and part-time Zoological Police Officers. These officers receive specialized training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).

[edit] Law Enforcement Authority

The Smithsonian Institution Office of Protection protects 19 Smithsonian sites.

According to the U.S Code (Title 63, Chapter 63, §6306), Smithsonian Guards designated as special police "may, within the specified buildings and grounds, enforce,and make arrests for violations of, sections 6302 and 6303 of this title, any regulation prescribed under section 6304 of this title, federal or state law, or any regulation prescribed under federal or state law; and (2) may enforce concurrently with the United States Park Police the laws and regulations applicable to the National Capital Parks, and may make arrests for violations of sections 6302 and 6303 of this title, within the several areas located within the exterior boundaries of the face of the curb lines of the squares within which the specified buildings and grounds are located."

As a uniformed force in accordance with subsection C, employees designated as Special Police for Smithsonian "may be provided, without charge, with uniforms and other equipment as may be necessary for the proper performance of their duties, including "Smithsonian Special Police" badges , revolvers, and ammunition."

[edit] Law Enforcement Union Membership

Smithsonian Museum officers in NY are members of the Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge#38 while officers in DC belong to FOP Lodge #DC1. The Fraternal Order of Police is a national labor union of law enforcement officers and agents.